Unite statement on the death of Derek Robinson

Unite statement on the death of Derek Robinson

31 October 2017

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “Unite sends its sincerest condolences to the family of Derek Robinson, following the news of his death.

“Derek Robinson was a dedicated life-long trade unionist who fought, as convenor, for the rights and future of the then British Leyland workforce at the Longbridge plant in Birmingham during the 1970s.

“History will show that Derek was unfairly maligned by the media as he aimed to find solutions to British Leyland’s industrial disputes and turn around the car company.

“He is quoted as saying: ‘If we make Leyland successful, it will be a political victory. It will prove that ordinary working people have got the
intelligence and determination to run industry’.

“These words are a suitable epithet for a stalwart of the trade union movement, whose passing we mourn.”